Coin control and selecting mechanism



Nov. 1, 1933. K BUGG 1,934,403

COIN CONTROL AND SELECTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 12, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 7, 1933. K. c. BUGG COIN CONTROL AND SELECTING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 12, 1931 5 a W 0 w w? n 5 0 4 W o o m .m o y 2 0 fl- W M W a C 4 8 W W 00 7 w 3 5 3 Z x A 2 I UHHHHHHHI IUHMH a i t 2% rmw I justinent o Patented Nov. '1, 193-3 CQIN CONTROL AND SELECTIN MECHANISM Kenly C. Bugg, Farmington, Mo., assignor to Ozark Novelty Company, Farmingten, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application November 12, 1931 Serial No. 574,485

18 Claims. (or. 194-403) machines or vending machines, in order to prevent fraudulent operation of the machines by use of slugs and the like.

p in my copending application, Serial No. 514,349, filed nebrua'ry 9, 1931, for Game device, theinvent-ion there disclosed comprised a table, in com ati'on with mechanism controlling the acces- :Sibill of balls adapted to be used in playing the {game on the table, and coin controlled apparatus for controlling said mechanism and requiring the deposit of a coin in the coin controlled apparatus before the said coin controlled apparatus could be operated to control the mechanism causing the balls to pass to an accessible position.

It has been demonstrated by experience in connection with this invention and other devices in-' eluding vending machines that attempts are fre= granny m de to defraud the machines by use of slugs of about the sizeof the coins required to operate the machi e. The use of these fraudulent sl for these dishonest purposes has grown enormously, so that it is necessary to make pro vision to prevent operation of the machines and other devices by use of the slugs;

An. object of the present invention is to proridesc in controlled apparatus for use in connection with the game device constituting the subject matter of my said application, as well as for other uses, whereby the operation or adthe devices controlling operation of the disch e mechanism of the machines by use or slugs is prevented, and whereby the spurious slugs and the like are separated from the ooins of proper value and thrown out of the way;

so that they will not interfere with the proper operation of the device when a coin of proper value is inserted.

Various other objects of the invention, and its adaptability to many uses, will appear from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which 1 is a side elevation of the mechanism, the side plate thereof being removed to show the operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side edge view.

3 is a rear elevation.

4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the adjustments and positions of the parts during the time that a coin or slug is being inserted into the machine and also showing a slug being discharged from the machine.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View on the line 5 -5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a View showing a slug supported in the machine.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing bearings for the pivotally supported selecting devices.

The invention comprises a rear plate 1 and a front plate 2 mounted in spaced relationship.

A pair of spaced members 3 are secured between the plates 1 and 2 in a manner to form between them a chute 4 through which the coins for controlling the machine, in which the invention is embodied; are inserted.

An inclined lower Wall 5 and a vertically spaced inclined upper wall 6 are secured between the plates 1 and 2 in a relationship to form a chute or passage '7 beyond and in continuation of the chute or inlet opening 4.

An angular lever 8 is mounted on a pivot Qat the rear side of the plate 1 and extends laterally 7 through a slot 10 in said plate. This lever 8 has on its free end an upward extension 11 formed with an edge 12 inclining upwardly and inwardly from the chute or opening 4. A spring 13 is mounted in connection with the pivot 9 and engages the lever 8 in such a way as to support the free end of said lever the position shown in Fig. 1 in which the inclined edge 12 is opposite the lower half of the chute or opening 4. r

A cooperating lever 14 is mounted on a pivot 15 in connection with the plate 1 and has a downward extension 16 similar to the upward extension 11 of the lever 8 and formed with a downwardly and inwardly inclined edge 17 similar to the inclined edge 12. The lever 14 is pivoted above the wall 6 and in their normal positions the extensions 11 and 16 are in cooperative relationship so that when a coin or slug 18 (Fig. 1) is pushed through the slot or opening 4, it will operate along the edges 12 andl? and support the extensions 11 and 16 and pass between said extensions and into the chute. 7. The coin 18 will roll along the chute 7 until it enters a downwardly extending chute 19 between the inner end of the wall 5 and a downward extension 20 of the wall 6.

A bell crank lever comprising an arm 21 and an arm 22' is mounted on a pivot 23 and is supported by a spring 24 in position to cause the end of the arm 21 to engage the lever 14 and operate said lever to position in which the extension 16 will cooperate with the extension 11 in the manner shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Whenthe coin 18 is pushed between the extensions 11 and "16, it raises the forward end of the lever.14 in opposition to the spring 24.

After the coin passes beyond the extensions 11 and 16, the spring 24 acts promptly to move the lever 14 to its initial position.

An angular member comprising an arm 25 and an arm 26 has its angle rigid with a pivot 2'7 having conical ends 28 seated in concavities in the adjacent ends of adjustable screw bearings 29. The screw bearings 29 are in axial alinement and are supported by a bracket 30 attached to the plate 2. This type of bearing minimizes frictional resistance to the operation of the-angular member 25--26. The arm 25 has a series of 'holes 31 designed and adapted to be selectively engaged by a screw 32 passing through an elongated slot 33 in a weighing weight 34. By this arrangement, the weighing weight 34 can be adjusted with pre cision along the arm 25 so as to provide a weighing device that is extremely accurate. The arm 26 inclines downwardly and inwardly below the chute 19, so that the coin 18 dropping from the chute '7 through the chute 19 will engage the arm 26 and, if the coin is of proper weight and value, will operate said arm by the weight and momentum of the coin and permit the cointobe discharged downwardly.

An angular member comprising an arm 35 and an arm 36 is mounted upon a pivot device 37 similar in all respects to the pivot device 27-29. The arm 35 has a number of holes 38 designed and adapted to be selectively engaged by a screw 39 extending through an elongated slot 40 in a weighing device 41, so that said weighing device 41 may be adjusted with precision along the arm 35. The arm 36 extends below the chute 29 and terminates above the arm 26, so as to form a receiving device against which the coin 18 drops through the chute 19. If the coin 18 is of the required value, the weight and momentum thereof will operate the weighing devices described and permit the coin to pass downwardly and to be discharged therefrom. But if a slug 42 (Fig. 4) of different weight and less value than the coin 18 is inserted into the machine, it will not operate the weighing device but will be supported thereby, as shown in Fig. 6.

A. swinging link 43 is connected to the lever 8 by a pivot 44 (Fig. 3) and extends through a slot 45 in the plate 1 to a position above a cam shoulder 46 on the arm 26. The arm 22 has an arm 47 extending adjacent to the arm 36. Accordingly, when any coin 18 or slug 42 is passed between the extensions 11 and 16 of the levers 8 and 14, said levers will cause the members 43 andj47 to spread apart the arms 26 and 36 and permit a slug supported on said arms to drop downwardly therefrom.

A valve device comprising a plate 48 is supported on pivots 49. A link 50 has its lower end pivotally connected at 51 with the valve plate 48 and its upper end pivoted to the lower end of a link 52 supported by an arm 53 projecting from the lever 14. Thus, when the lever 14 is raised by the passage of a coin 18 or a slug 42 between the extensions 11 and 16, the valve 48 is thereby operated to extend across the plane of the lower end of the chute 19, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, the slug 42 will be caused to pass to one side of the valve plate 48 because said valve plate is held in this inclined position for a sufficient time to permit the slug 42 to drop the short distance from the arms 26 and 35 to said valve before the valve can be returned to its initial position.

, In operation, coins 18 are inserted into the device between the extensions 11 and 16. These coins 18. roll along through the chute 7 a d dr p through the chute 19 and, being of proper weight and value, engage and operate the arms 26 and 36 and pass between and drop from said arms. As soon as the coin passes the extensions the extensions 11 and 16, the springs 13 and 24 act immediately to move the levers 8 and 14 to their starting positions, thus permitting the weighing devices to resume their eiiective positions shown in Fig. 1. The coin rolls along the chute 7 and drops through the chute l9 and, being of proper weight and value, will operate the weighing devies and pass therefrom. In the meantime, the valve 48 has been moved to its initial position, as shown in Fig. 2, causing the coin to pass to the left of said valve.

When a slug 42 of less weight and value than thecoin 18 is passed into the device, said slug will be caught and upheld and supported by the arms 26 and 36, because the weight and momentum of said slug is insunicient to operate the weighing device. When another slug or a coin of proper value is inserted into the machine, it operates the levers 8 and 14 and thereby tilts the valve 48 to the position shown in Fig. 5. Simultaneously the weighing devices are spread apart by the parts 43 and 47 to discharge the slug 42. This slug 42 is caught and thrown out by the valve 48. If it is another slug that is inserted in the machine, it will be caught and upheld by the weighing devices in the manner described. However, if a coin of proper value and weight is inserted in the machine, it passes to the left of the valve 48, because said valve will have as sumed the position shown in Fig. 2 before the coin is discharged from between the arms 26 and 36.

It is now clear that this invention obtains all of its intended objects and purposes in a highly eflicient, economical and satisfactory way. The construction and arrangement of the parts and elements may be varied widely within the scope of equivalent limits without departure from the nature and principle of the invention. I do not restrict myself in any unessential particulars, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Mechanism of the character described comprising pivotally supported weighing devices for receiving and discharging between them coins of predetermined value and weight and for supporting elements of less weight than said coins, means for operating said weighing devices as an incident to the insertion of a coin or another one of said elements to discharge therefrom any element supported by said weighing devices, and means for separating said coins from said elements.

2. Mechanism of the character described comprising pivotally supported weighing devices for receiving and discharging between them coins of predetermined value and weight and for supporting elements of less weight than said coins, means for operating said weighing devices as an incident port the elements of less weight, a separator, connections for operating said weighing devices by any of said elements passing toward said weighing devices, and connections for operating said separator to discharge in diverging directions the said slug elements and the said coin elements of different weight from said slug elements after said elements are discharged from said weighing de vices.

l. Mechanism of the character described comprising pivotally supported weighing devices for receiving and weighing coin elements and sing elements that differ in weight frcm the weight of the coin elements, means for causing said weighing devices to support the elements of less weight, a member for separating the said coin elements from the said slug elements that are of different weight than the coin elements, and connections for operating said weighing devices by any of said elements passing toward said weighing devices and causing said weighing devices to discharge any element supported thereby.

5. Mechanism of the character described comprising pivotally supported weighing devices for receiving and weighing coin elements and slug elements that differ in weight from the weight of the coin elements, means for causing said weigh.- ing devices to support the elements of less weight, a nember for separating the coin elements from the slug elements that are of diff erent weight than the coin elements, connections for operating said weighing devices by any of said elements passing toward said weighing devices and causing said weighing devices to discharge any element supported thereby, and connections for operating said member to separate the coin elements from the said slug elements that differ in weight from the said coin elements.

6. Mechanism of the character described comprising pivotally supported weighing devices for receiving and weighing coin elements and slug elements that differ in weight from the coin elements, a rigid chute for guiding the coin and slug elements to said weighing devices, means for causing said weighing devices to support the elements that are of less weight while the elements that are of greater weight pass from said weighing devices, means for operating said weighing devices to discharge any element supported thereby, means for separating said coin elements from said slug elements, and means for operating said levers by any element passing into said chute.

'3. Mechanism of the character described comprising pivotally supported weighing devices for receiving and weighing coin elements and slug elements that differ in weight from the coin elements, a rigid chute for guidin the coin and sing elements to said weighing devices, means for causing said weighing devices to support the elements that are of less weight while the elements that are of greater weight pass from said weighing devices, levers for operating said weighing devices to discharge any element supported thereby, means for operating said levers by any element passing into said chute, and means for separating the said coin elements from the said slug elements that differ in weight therefrom.

8. Mechanism of the character described com prising pivotally supported weighing devices, a separator member for separating coin elements from slug elements differing in weight from the coin elements, means for operating said weighing devices by coin elements and by slug elements diifering in weight from the coin elements passing toward said weighing devices, and means for operating said separator member by said last named means,

9. Mechanism of the character described com-- prising pivotally supported weighing devices for receiving and weighing coin elements and slug elements that r in weight -Zrom the coin elements, an unobstructed chute for guiding said coin and slug elements to said weighing devices, means for causing said weighing devices to supportthe elements that are of less weight while the elements that are of greater weight pass said weighing devices, means for operating said weighing devices to discharge any element sup ported thereby when another element is inserted in said chute, and a member for separating the said coin elements from the said slug elements that differ in weight therefrom.

10. Mechanism of the character described comprising weighing devices for receiving and weighing coin elements and slug elements that differ in weight from the coin elements, means for pivotally supporting said devices in position in which said devices will receive and will be operated by the elements of greater weight and will support and retain the elements of less weight, and mechanism for operating said devices by any element passing toward said devices to cause said devices to discharge therefrom any of said elements that may be supported thereby and to separate saidcoin elements from said slug elements.

11. Mechanism of the character described comprising weighing devices for receiving and discharging between them coin elements and slug elements that differ in weight from the coin elements, means for pivotally supporting said weighing devices in position to receive and discharge between them the elements that are of greater weight and to receive and support the elements that are of less weight, mechanism operative by another element passing toward said devices for operating said devices to discharge therefrom the elements that are supported thereby, and means for separating the elements of greater weight from the elements of less weight. 7

l2. Mechanism of t e character described comprising weighing devices for receiving and discharging between them coin elements and slug elements, means pivotally supporting said devices and for causing said devices to support elements of less weight and to discharge therefrom elements of greater wei ht, levers operative by another element passing toward said devices for operating said devices to discharge said elements of less weight from said devices, spring actuated means for holding said levers normally in posiion for operation by elements passing toward said weighing devices, and means operated by one of said levers for separating the elements of greater weight from the elements of less weight.

13. Mechanism of the character described comprising a chute having an inlet end and a discharge end, weighing devices supported adjacent to the discharge end of chute for receiving and discharging between them coin elements and slug elements, means for causing said weighing devices to support the elements of less weight and to discharge therefrom elements of greater weight, levers for operatins said devices to discharge therefrom the elements of less weight, and a separator mechanism for separating the elements of less weight from the elements of greater weight.

14. Mechanism of the character described comprising a pair of angular weighing devices having supporting arms of different lengths, pivot means for supporting said weighing devices in position in which an arm of one of said devices terminates above an arm of the other device, Weighing weights supported by said devices for yieldingly holding said devices in said relationship, a chute for guiding coin elements and slug elements to said arms of said devices, and mechanism for separating weighed coin elements from weighed slug ele- I ments of different weight. 10'

15. Mechanism of the character described comprising angular weighing devices having receiving arms of difierent lengths arranged in angular relationship to each other and adapted to receive between them coin elements and slug elements, means for controlling said devices in a manner to discharge the elements of greater weight and to suport the elements of less weight, a chute for guiding the elements toward said arms, and levers operated by an element entering said chute to operate said devices and discharge therefrom any elements supported by said devices.

16. Mechanism of the character described comprising angular weighing devices having receiving arms of diiierent lengths arranged in angular relationship to each other and adapted to receive for guiding the elements toward said arms, levers operated by an element entering said chute to operate said devices and discharge therefrom any elements supported by said devices, and a separator device operated by one of said levers for separating the elements of greater weight from the elements of less weight.

17. Mechanism of the character described comprising a rigid guide having an inlet end and an outlet end for guiding coin elements and slug elements, weighing devices mounted near the outlet end of said guide, means for controlling said weighing devices to discharge automatically therefrom coin elements of greater weight and to support elements of less weight, a pair of levers, means in connection with said levers operated by any element that is inserted into said guide for operating said levers, and means operated by said levers respectively for operating said weighing devices.

18. Mechanism of the character described comprising a rigid guide having an inlet end and an outlet end for guiding coin elements and slug elements, weighing devices mounted near the outlet end 01" said guide, means for controlling said weighing devices to discharge automatically therefrom coin elements of greater weight and to support elements of less weight, a pair of levers, means in connection with said levers operated by any element that is inserted into said guide for operating said levers, means operated by said levers respectively for operating said weighing devices, and means operated by one of said levers for separating heavier elements from elements of less weight.

KENLYC. BUGG. 

